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My beer is completely unappealing to me now. Anticipation zips through my veins. I want to hop on a plane right now and head back to Anna with this newfound conviction pumping through me, but I know it’s not time. Not yet.
“I want to make this as easy on her as possible. I’ve got so much shit comin’ at me right now that I don’t have a clue how to navigate yet,” I say on a heavy exhale.
“You talkin’ about the album?”
“That and the tour. Garrison wants me out in a couple months. The album done in half that time.”
His expression is thoughtful, concentrated. “How about you tell me a bit about Anna before I dip back into my well of knowledge? I want to hear all about the woman who’s got you this worked up.”
I don’t hesitate to do just that. From how we first met to our time at the wedding and how fast and hard I fell for her. I tell him that she loves the ranch and that it loves her right back. He nods along with every word, howling a laugh when I tell him that I searched high and low for a Highland cow for her because she mentioned wanting one a single time and that I went as far as to build it its own shed in the pasture.
I tell him all of her favourite things and about her fear of driving on icy roads. His lips tug into a smirk when I mention her dream of owning her own hair salon, and I grow far too curious about that reaction to let it go.
“What?”
He pushes his bottle to the side and scratches the underside of his jaw. “Lee Rose’s daughter lives in Cherry Peak, yeah? I heard about her a few months back at one of Lila’s little summer shindigs, and my wife hasn’t let it go since. Damn, what’s her name again? Starts with aW.”
“Wanda? Yeah, she’s in Cherry Peak. Owns the salon my woman works at.”
The topic change is confusing, but I let it run its course. Wanda grew up in Cherry Peak with her mother, not with her father. I’ve never been close enough to her to ask about her father other than what the town knows, and even if I was, I don’t think I would have put my nose in it regardless. There’s a reason Lee Rose isn’t a Cherry Peak native, and I don’t think it has as much to do with his career as it does his daughter.
All I know is that Wanda’s been in and out of our hometown since shortly after high school graduation. I’ve lost count of the number of businesses she’s started up just to abandon afew months or sometimes years later. The hair salon is only a temporary interest for her. That knowledge shakes something up inside of me.
“Shit, yeah, that’s right,” Killian says.
“Why the sudden interest in Wanda?”
“Well, from what I’ve heard, she’s been takin’ an interest in dear old dad after all these years. It was pretty common knowledge that Lee was a shit dad who ran off pretendin’ he didn’t know of a place called Cherry Peak, so Wanda’s drawn a bit of attention with her sudden questions,” he explains.
I furrow my brows, still confused. “Alright, so he was a shitty dad. That doesn’t answer my question.”
“That’s because you’re not lettin’ me finish. My wife’s a bit of a gossip, which in turn makesmea gossip. From what I’ve learned from her, Wanda’s plannin’ on takin’ off again to confront the old man. I’m not sure for what, but that salon of hers is as good as gone if she disappears.”
“She’s not goin’ to find a new owner? Just leave all her employees high and dry?” I snap, worry and anger swirling in my belly.
Killian leans back in his seat, arms crossing over his chest and a smirk splitting his cheeks. “Not if there’s already someone who has a dream of ownin’ a hair salon, I’d reckon. Maybe a woman whose name rhymes with banana.”
I double blink. “You think Anna should buy it from her?”
“I thinkyoushould buy itforher. Help her with her dream while she helps you with yours. She gives, you give. Knowin’ Lila’s at home with our babies while also doin’ what she loves with her clothin’ line makes it easier for me to leave to do what I love. It can be easy to let our careers suck the life out of those in our lives, Brody. I know my woman is strong enough to fight for herself—God knows she’s kept my head on straight all these years—but when I got the opportunity to help her with herdream, I didn’t hesitate. Anna might tell you to go to hell and that you overstepped, but it’s worth a try.”
I won’t deny that the thought of being able to help her with this would make me feel more accomplished than pretty much anything I’ve ever done in my life. Knowing she’s home and happy and busy doing what she loves while I’m gone doing what I have to would bring me a sense of peace.
Anna wants to be in Cherry Peak. She’s found a home there and friends that she deserves more than anything. Owning a salon of her own . . . that would be the cherry on top. The final piece to the puzzle of her new life.
“Does it ever get easier? Even if I do help with the salon, the thought of leavin’ her still grates. Tours aren’t a few easy days on the road. You know that better than I do,” I ramble.
“You’ll always miss her. Always wish she was right beside you on the bus or waitin’ for you backstage. All you can do is focus on gettin’ back to her once you’re done. Well, that and bringin’ her with you whenever you can. Don’t torture yourself with holdin’ back from askin’ her to join you. I guarantee she’ll miss you just as much as you’ll miss her. Don’t make it harder than it has to be. And before you ask, I know you’re worried about recordin’ the damn album, but that’s nothin’. It’s quick time apart compared to the entire future you two have. Don’t make it a big deal.”
He’s right. Too right. I feel like a fool for worrying so much about things with easy solutions. I blame that lowlife reporter for these fucking doubts and fears. I’ve been an idiot. Anna’s in love with me the way I’m in love with her. The move mountains for her just to catch a glimpse of her pretty smile type of love. The burn anyone who so much as thinks to take her happiness from her type of love. No amount of distance could sever that.
My next words come out quickly, hard with determination.
“I guess it’s time we get to work, then.”
44
ANNALISE
